Tom Wood putting his best foot forward
With new sport Foot Golf taking the nation by storm, one 24-year-old Shropshire player has his sights on the World Cup final in Argentina.
Tom Wood, from Telford, has risen to 18th seed in the UK having only started playing competitively seven months ago.
He's now heading for Cambridge on Sunday in a bid to earn a trip to South America.
UK Foot Golf are hosting a tournament in which 90 participants will be whittled down to just four over a marathon of 54 holes.
The winner of the competition will join up with 10 players, who have already qualified for January's Foot Golf World Cup in Argentina.
Wood, who is a leisure manager in Shifnal and also business assistant to Shropshire FootGolf, told of hpw the sport is something he was always looking out for.
He said: "I just remember playing golf and thinking 'I'd love to be able to kick the ball instead.' So I just googled it when I got home.
"Luckily for me, there was a Foot Golf course opening at the Shropshire Golf Course. So I went and had a game and loved it.
"I started playing Foot Golf in July 2014 but I've only started going round the competitive circuit since March earlier this year.
"I'm currently the No 1 ranked player in Shropshire which is a great achievement for my first season, so I'll be trying to push on next season and break into the top 10.
"It won't be easy because Foot Golf is becoming more and more popular, so there will be a big increase in players next year."
Wood has received backing from local companies EMAY Electrical and Lighting Design Ltd and FORTIS Sports Solution Ltd.
He added: "I'm honoured to be gaining support from local businesses and I just hope I can repay the faith they've shown in me and get on that plane to Argentina."
